Cranberry Sausage Breakfast Casserole (Printable)
Savory sausage, cranberries, and bread baked in a creamy egg custard for a festive holiday brunch.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb breakfast sausage, mild or spicy, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Fruits
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 celery stalks, diced
04 - 1 cup dried cranberries
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ Bread
06 - 8 cups day-old bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (French, sourdough, or country bread)
→ Dairy & Eggs
07 - 1 ½ cups whole milk
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 6 large eggs
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
→ Seasonings
12 - 1 teaspoon dried sage
13 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 1 teaspoon salt
15 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a plate, leaving any drippings in the pan.
03 - Add the diced onion and celery to the skillet with the remaining drippings. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread cubes, cooked sausage, sautéed onion and celery, dried cranberries, chopped parsley, dried sage, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly distributed.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, and melted butter until smooth and well blended.
06 - Pour the egg custard over the bread mixture and toss until everything is thoroughly coated. Fold in the shredded cheddar cheese. Transfer the entire mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. At this stage, the casserole can be covered and refrigerated overnight if preparing ahead.
07 - Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is fully set in the center. A knife inserted into the middle should come out clean.
08 - Allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sweet tart cranberries cutting through the rich sausage and cheese will make you wonder why you never paired them before.
- You can assemble the whole thing the night before and just pop it in the oven while coffee brews.
02 -
- Do not use fresh bread or your casserole will turn into a gummy, soggy mess instead of having those irresistible crispy edges.
- Letting it sit overnight in the fridge transforms the flavor completely, the bread absorbs the custard and every bite becomes richer.
03 -
- If your bread is not day old, spread the cubes on a baking sheet and toast at 300 degrees for 10 minutes to dry them out.
- Save a small handful of cheese to sprinkle on top during the last 10 minutes of baking for an irresistible crust.